Patents by Inventor Kenji Matsuzaka

Kenji Matsuzaka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11947305
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which includes an accommodating portion and a replenishment port, a transfer portion configured to transfer a developer image on an image bearing member onto a recording material, a supporting tray including a supporting surface configured to support the recording material thereon, and a discharge portion configured to discharge the recording material, onto which the developer image has been transferred, on the supporting surface, wherein the supporting surface has an opening portion opening such that the replenishment port is exposed through the supporting surface, and wherein an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position where the opening/closing member covers the replenishment port and serves as a part of the supporting surface and an open position where the replenishment port is exposed is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomio Noguchi, Masaaki Sato, Kenji Matsuzaka, Koji Fujinaka, Takao Sameshima, Akitoshi Toyota, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida
  • Patent number: 11815831
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage container in which toner is stored, a replenishment port configured to allow replenishment of toner from the replenishment container outside the image forming apparatus to the storage container therethrough, a replenishment restriction portion, a drive source configured to supply a driving force, and a drive transmission portion configured to take a first operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to the replenishment restriction portion to switch the replenishment restriction portion between a restricting state and an allowing state, and a second operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to a toner conveyance portion to cause the toner conveyance portion to convey toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Kubo, Kenji Matsuzaka, Tomio Noguchi, Kenichi Tagami
  • Publication number: 20230259050
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body that includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a development unit configured to develop the photosensitive member with toner. The main body is configured to discharge a recording material on which an image is formed with the toner onto a discharge tray. The image forming apparatus also includes a toner supply port on which a supply container is mounted to supply toner to a toner containing portion of the development unit. The image forming apparatus further includes a non-contact communication portion including an antenna and configured to receive a signal for user authentication. The discharge tray, the toner supply port, and the non-contact communication portion are provided at an upper portion of the main body. The non-contact communication portion is provided outside the discharge tray when the main body is viewed from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Kei Hayashida, Kenji Matsuzaka, Tomio Noguchi, Takahiro Azeta
  • Patent number: 11669024
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body that includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a development unit configured to develop the photosensitive member with toner. The main body is configured to discharge a recording material on which an image is formed with the toner onto a discharge tray. The image forming apparatus also includes a toner supply port on which a supply container is mounted to supply toner to a toner containing portion of the development unit. The image forming apparatus further includes a non-contact communication portion including an antenna and configured to receive a signal for user authentication. The discharge tray, the toner supply port, and the non-contact communication portion are provided at an upper portion of the main body. The non-contact communication portion is provided outside the discharge tray when the main body is viewed from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Hayashida, Kenji Matsuzaka, Tomio Noguchi, Takahiro Azeta
  • Publication number: 20230134527
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable, the developer container including an accommodating portion, and a supporting portion, wherein the developer container includes a projection portion that is provided at one end portion thereof in the rotation axis direction of the developer bearing member and projects toward the supporting portion more than a center portion of the developer container in a crossing direction crossing the rotation axis direction, the projection portion communicates with the accommodating portion and includes, at a distal end portion thereof, an attachment portion configured such that the replenishment container is attachable thereto in a state of being exposed to the outside of the apparatus, and a replenishment port for replenishing the accommodating portion with developer from the replenishment container is defined in the attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Koji Wada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Kenji Matsuzaka, Takao Sameshima, Tomio Noguchi, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 11616892
    Abstract: For a plurality of types of print media, a pre-trained model is prepared, the pre-trained model being generated by machine learning based on spectroscopic information of an unprinted area on the print medium and an identifier indicating the type of the print medium and using the identifier as a trainer. The spectroscopic information of the unprinted area on the print medium to print on is acquired. The acquired spectroscopic information is applied to the pre-trained model. Using a result thereof, auxiliary information about the type of the print medium is outputted. A specification of the type of the print medium using the outputted auxiliary information is accepted. When the type of the print medium is thus specified, printing is performed using a print condition suitable for the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuko Yamamoto, Takahiro Kamada, Mitsuhiro Yamashita, Shotaro Matsuda, Ryoki Watanabe, Kenji Matsuzaka
  • Publication number: 20230078527
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which includes an accommodating portion and a replenishment port, a transfer portion configured to transfer a developer image on an image bearing member onto a recording material, a supporting tray including a supporting surface configured to support the recording material thereon, and a discharge portion configured to discharge the recording material, onto which the developer image has been transferred, on the supporting surface, wherein the supporting surface has an opening portion opening such that the replenishment port is exposed through the supporting surface, and wherein an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position where the opening/closing member covers the replenishment port and serves as a part of the supporting surface and an open position where the replenishment port is exposed is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Tomio Noguchi, Masaaki Sato, Kenji Matsuzaka, Koji Fujinaka, Takao Sameshima, Akitoshi Toyota, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida
  • Patent number: 11579816
    Abstract: A printing condition setting method is a printing condition setting method of setting printing conditions in a printing apparatus, including a learning step of performing machine learning by using ink physical characteristics and ink type information, a similarity score calculation step of calculating a similarity score indicating a similarity of a use ink used for printing in the printing apparatus with respect to a learned ink learned in the learning step, and a printing condition setting step of setting the printing conditions according to the use ink based on the similarity score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kamada, Satoru Ono, Yuko Yamamoto, Ryoki Watanabe, Mitsuhiro Yamashita, Kenji Matsuzaka
  • Patent number: 11573521
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable, the developer container including an accommodating portion, and a supporting portion, wherein the developer container includes a projection portion that is provided at one end portion thereof in the rotation axis direction of the developer bearing member and projects toward the supporting portion more than a center portion of the developer container in a crossing direction crossing the rotation axis direction, the projection portion communicates with the accommodating portion and includes, at a distal end portion thereof, an attachment portion configured such that the replenishment container is attachable thereto in a state of being exposed to the outside of the apparatus, and a replenishment port for replenishing the accommodating portion with developer from the replenishment container is defined in the attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Wada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Kenji Matsuzaka, Takao Sameshima, Tomio Noguchi, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 11556088
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which includes an accommodating portion and a replenishment port, a transfer portion configured to transfer a developer image on an image bearing member onto a recording material, a supporting tray including a supporting surface configured to support the recording material thereon, and a discharge portion configured to discharge the recording material, onto which the developer image has been transferred, on the supporting surface, wherein the supporting surface has an opening portion opening such that the replenishment port is exposed through the supporting surface, and wherein an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position where the opening/closing member covers the replenishment port and serves as a part of the supporting surface and an open position where the replenishment port is exposed is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomio Noguchi, Masaaki Sato, Kenji Matsuzaka, Koji Fujinaka, Takao Sameshima, Akitoshi Toyota, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida
  • Publication number: 20220305804
    Abstract: A print condition setting method for setting a print condition in a printer includes: an ink type learning step of executing machine learning of an ink type discriminator using physical property information of ink and an ink type identifier; a medium type learning step of executing machine learning of a medium type discriminator using characteristic information of a medium and medium type identification information; and a print condition setting step of setting the print condition according to an ink type discriminated by the ink type discriminator and a medium type discriminated by the medium type discriminator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro YAMASHITA, Takahiro KAMADA, Kenji MATSUZAKA, Satoru ONO, Ryoki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20220194099
    Abstract: A method for executing a discrimination process of a printing medium includes a step (a) of preparing N machine learning models when N is an integer of 1 or more, a step (b) of acquiring target spectral data which is a spectral reflectance of a target printing medium, and a step (c) of discriminating a type of the target printing medium by executing a class classification process of the target spectral data using the N machine learning models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Takahiro KAMADA, Ryoki WATANABE, Satoru ONO, Kenji MATSUZAKA
  • Publication number: 20220197572
    Abstract: A printing condition setting method is a printing condition setting method of setting printing conditions in a printing apparatus, including a learning step of performing machine learning by using ink physical characteristics and ink type information, a similarity score calculation step of calculating a similarity score indicating a similarity of a use ink used for printing in the printing apparatus with respect to a learned ink learned in the learning step, and a printing condition setting step of setting the printing conditions according to the use ink based on the similarity score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Takahiro KAMADA, Satoru ONO, Yuko YAMAMOTO, Ryoki WATANABE, Mitsuhiro YAMASHITA, Kenji MATSUZAKA
  • Publication number: 20220159140
    Abstract: For a plurality of types of print media, a pre-trained model is prepared, the pre-trained model being generated by machine learning based on spectroscopic information of an unprinted area on the print medium and an identifier indicating the type of the print medium and using the identifier as a trainer. The spectroscopic information of the unprinted area on the print medium to print on is acquired. The acquired spectroscopic information is applied to the pre-trained model. Using a result thereof, auxiliary information about the type of the print medium is outputted. A specification of the type of the print medium using the outputted auxiliary information is accepted. When the type of the print medium is thus specified, printing is performed using a print condition suitable for the print medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Yuko YAMAMOTO, Takahiro KAMADA, Mitsuhiro YAMASHITA, Shotaro MATSUDA, Ryoki WATANABE, Kenji MATSUZAKA
  • Publication number: 20220075291
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage container in which toner is stored, a replenishment port configured to allow replenishment of toner from the replenishment container outside the image forming apparatus to the storage container therethrough, a replenishment restriction portion, a drive source configured to supply a driving force, and a drive transmission portion configured to take a first operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to the replenishment restriction portion to switch the replenishment restriction portion between a restricting state and an allowing state, and a second operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to a toner conveyance portion to cause the toner conveyance portion to convey toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Shinji Kubo, Kenji Matsuzaka, Tomio Noguchi, Kenichi Tagami
  • Publication number: 20220026829
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body that includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a development unit configured to develop the photosensitive member with toner. The main body is configured to discharge a recording material on which an image is formed with the toner onto a discharge tray. The image forming apparatus also includes a toner supply port on which a supply container is mounted to supply toner to a toner containing portion of the development unit. The image forming apparatus further includes a non-contact communication portion including an antenna and configured to receive a signal for user authentication. The discharge tray, the toner supply port, and the non-contact communication portion are provided at an upper portion of the main body. The non-contact communication portion is provided outside the discharge tray when the main body is viewed from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Kei Hayashida, Kenji Matsuzaka, Tomio Noguchi, Takahiro Azeta
  • Publication number: 20210405574
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable, the developer container including an accommodating portion, and a supporting portion, wherein the developer container includes a projection portion that is provided at one end portion thereof in the rotation axis direction of the developer bearing member and projects toward the supporting portion more than a center portion of the developer container in a crossing direction crossing the rotation axis direction, the projection portion communicates with the accommodating portion and includes, at a distal end portion thereof, an attachment portion configured such that the replenishment container is attachable thereto in a state of being exposed to the outside of the apparatus, and a replenishment port for replenishing the accommodating portion with developer from the replenishment container is defined in the attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Koji Wada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Kenji Matsuzaka, Takao Sameshima, Tomio Noguchi, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida, Masaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20210405577
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which includes an accommodating portion and a replenishment port, a transfer portion configured to transfer a developer image on an image bearing member onto a recording material, a supporting tray including a supporting surface configured to support the recording material thereon, and a discharge portion configured to discharge the recording material, onto which the developer image has been transferred, on the supporting surface, wherein the supporting surface has an opening portion opening such that the replenishment port is exposed through the supporting surface, and wherein an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position where the opening/closing member covers the replenishment port and serves as a part of the supporting surface and an open position where the replenishment port is exposed is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Tomio Noguchi, Masaaki Sato, Kenji Matsuzaka, Koji Fujinaka, Takao Sameshima, Akitoshi Toyota, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida
  • Patent number: 11209755
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage container in which toner is stored, a replenishment port configured to allow replenishment of toner from a replenishment container outside the image forming apparatus to the storage container therethrough, a replenishment restriction portion, and a drive source configured to supply a driving force A drive transmission portion is configured to take a first operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to the replenishment restriction portion to switch the replenishment restriction portion between a restricting state and an allowing state, and a second operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to a toner conveyance portion to cause the toner conveyance portion to convey toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Kubo, Kenji Matsuzaka, Tomio Noguchi, Kenichi Tagami
  • Patent number: 11156940
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body that includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a development unit configured to develop the photosensitive member with toner. The main body is configured to discharge a recording material on which an image is formed with the toner onto a discharge tray. The image forming apparatus also includes a toner supply port on which a supply container is mounted to supply toner to a toner containing portion of the development unit. The image forming apparatus further includes a non-contact communication portion including an antenna and configured to receive a signal for user authentication. The discharge tray, the toner supply port, and the non-contact communication portion are provided at an upper portion of the main body. The non-contact communication portion is provided outside the discharge tray when the main body is viewed from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Hayashida, Kenji Matsuzaka, Tomio Noguchi, Takahiro Azeta